TV crime shows spark boom in ‘duff’ university forensic courses

A LEADING police scientist has claimed universities are promoting forensic science courses to meet demand from students inspired by TV crime series just to put “bums on seats”. Jim Fraser swaps police fieldwork for teaching and research this week when he joins the University of Strathclyde as head of their world-leading forensic science unit. He said a public interest in “gore”, fuelled by TV shows such as Silent Witness and CSI, had made forensics courses hip. More than 53 UK higher education institutions offer over 300 courses with “forensic” in the title. But Fraser, currently head of forensic investigation at Kent Police, said many universities were offering courses which were of little use .

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